This blog was designed to discusss problems around housing the homeless in Australia and to create innovative new housing options. Written from the viewpoint of a rooming house operator. It will be a no nonsence expose of what is really happening behind closed doors whilst we await the decisions of DHS Inquiry into Rooming Houses. Will also cover my views on tax, banking, economic policy issues in both Australia and USA.

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Saturday, 8 September 2012

UNIONS HAVE OUTPRICED THEIR MEMBERS

Investors have discovered a new way to save contruction costs by moving to use laminated timber buildings as Lend Lease and Grollo have on their books.

The cross laminated multiple timber layers are glued and then pressed given them the structural strength similar to concrete or steel, allowing the building to bear the load of the 10 storeys.

The Lend Lease Docklands development Forté main structure finished after just 16 weeks, making it the tallest timber residential building in the world. They started in the first week of June, with levels rapidly added. Windows and insulation are now being installed. Construction of the building is expected to be completed in mid-October.

“Concrete and steel buildings are carbon intensive but timber, as well as being renewable, has the advantage of storing carbon. Timbers used are also sourced from certified sustainably managed forests,” .
“With the structure being built entirely from CLT, Forté will reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 1,400 tonnes when compared to concrete and steel – the equivalent of removing 345 cars from our roads.”

So the Greens movement might be happier but im sure they wont be pleased that timber use will rise by importing more and using less timber from local sources costing jobs for local foresters and building workers.

And if we consider than African and Brazilian iron ore mines are opening up using $2 per day miners the Asians have woken up they can get their minerals cheaper than in Australia whose workers get paid 150 times more as Gina Reinhardt tried to remind our blinkered Treasurer Wayne Swan.

These issues open up many more threats to all our industries which the Federal Govt refuses to even acknowlege...very puzzling.... scratch my head...or are they aware but just dont want to go there as it will mean acknowleging our whole economiy is at risk.